Acanthopanax henryi (Oliv.) Harms has been used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, and abdominal pain. This study evaluated whether natural compounds isolated from the leaves of A. henryi (Oliv.) Harms could inhibit adipocyte differentiation by regulating transcriptional factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity was also evaluated. Among the several compounds isolated from the leaves of A. henryi (Oliv.) Harms, Glycoside St-C1 and Glycoside St-E2 significantly decreased lipid accumulation and the expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα. Glycoside St-C1 and Glycoside St-E2 were found to activate AMPK when they regulated PPARγ and C/EBPα. Results confirmed that Glycoside St-C1 and Glycoside St-E2 isolated from the leaves of A. henryi (Oliv.) Harms can inhibit adipogenesis through the AMPK-PPARγ-C/EBPα mechanism. Thus, this study suggests that Glycoside St-C1 and Glycoside St-E2 have a therapeutic effect due to activation of the AMPKα.
Keywords: AMPKα; Acanthopanax henryi (Oliv.) Harms; C/EBPα; PPARγ; adipogenesis.